A (0:00)

Foreign. Good afternoon, good evening, wherever you may be right now, and welcome to episode number one of the AI Lean Edge podcast, where we make AI simple, practical and powerful for small business owners just like you. I'm Brian Bricker, founder of AI Lean Solutions. At 54, with over 25 years in process improvement and team leadership, lean thinking and operational excellence, I've seen firsthand how powerful the right tools can be and how overwhelmed small business owners often feel by all the tech talk. Today, we're diving deep into an introduction to AI for small business owners. This is your roadmap, not just for understanding what AI is, but how it can transform your business, your time and your life. Okay, let's get into it. Before we geek out on AI, here's a quick word about AI Lean Solutions. I started this firm because I wanted to merge my background in lean thinking, process improvement and organizational development with cutting edge AI and do it in a way that empowers people like you. Small business owners in retail, real estate, accounting, law, the trades and other professional services who want growth without the tech headache. At AI Lean Solutions, we offer AI audits and deep business analysis, lean training modules and coaching, and ongoing monthly optimization tools and targeted consulting. All designed to simplify your operations, increase your profits and give you back your time. Curious? Head over and get a free deep analysis of your business and the market you're in@aileansolutions.com okay, back to it. Let's rewind to the roots. AI's story begins in the 1950s. Post war optimism was in the air and scientists like Alan Turing asked, can machines think? The first thinking programs were crude but revolutionary. In the 60s, a computer named Eliza simulated therapy sessions. It wasn't smart, but it was the first time a computer responded with something resembling emotion. The 70s and 80s saw expert systems software that helped diagnose diseases or guide decisions. But tech couldn't keep up with the hype. Funding dried up. That period of time is known as the A I Winter. I think even Ned Stark was caught off guard back then. Then in 1997, boom. IBM's Deep Blue beat chess world champion Garry Kasparov. AI was no longer theoretical, but the real explosion that came in the 2000s. With the rise of data, cloud storage and computing power, AI grew rapidly. Machine learning let programs learn from patterns. Voice assistants, facial recognition, Netflix recommendations all were powered by early AI. Today, in 2025, tools like Grok, ChatGPT, MidJourney, and Claude help businesses write, design, plan, organize and and even coach. But here's the key AI is no longer just for big tech. It's for you. It's your assistant, your advisor, and your accelerator. Let's dream a little. AI isn't just about business. It's changing the world. In energy, AI is optimizing smart grids and cutting waste by up to 15%. In healthcare, it's detecting cancers earlier and improving diagnostics. In education, personalized apps are teaching kids in developing countries and here at home in ways we never imagined. AI is also driving equal opportunity. Voice tools support those with disabilities, translation software tears down language barriers. And AI tools can put people with other disadvantages on an even playing field, giving everyone a better opportunity to pursue their dreams and talents. In disaster zones, AI predicts floods or wildfires before they happen, saving lives. And yes, AI is creating jobs, not just replacing them. Roles in AI, ethics, training, analysis, prompt engineering, and tool integration are booming. The takeaway AI isn't here to replace us. It's here to elevate us. And when used responsibly, it makes our businesses smarter, our our work more human, and our world a much better place. Now let's get practical. You've heard of AI, You've heard of Lean, but have you heard of the magic that happens when they work together? Lean Thinking is about reducing waste and continuously improving your systems. It's something I've taught for years. Combine it with AI and you unlock massive gains. Let's break it down by sector. In retail, AI can forecast inventory and cut overstock by 20%. Connect your POS to tools like ChatGPT or Zapier to automate restocking reminders, customer follow ups, and marketing emails. In real estate, AI sorts leads by engagement, recommends pricing, and drafts compelling listings instantly. For those of you in other professional services, AI will automate scheduling, billing follow ups, and basic client communications. One of my clients saw a 15% drop in billing errors and a 20% boost in client retention just by incorporating a couple of AI tools. AI absolutely thrives in areas of repetition, data and optimization. Lean Thinking asks, how can I do this better? AI answers, here's how and do you want me to do it for you? So what are the benefits of combining lean thinking with AI? Imagine saving 10 to 30% on costs, boosting productivity without burning you out, improving client satisfaction with real time responses and personalization, scaling effectively without hiring prematurely. Start simple Use free tools like ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, or Zapier. Just automate one annoying task this week. That's the LeanPlus AI mindset. Small experiments, big wins at AI lean solutions I can guide you through it with training, support and hands on help. No code, no jargon, just results. So let's recap. AI isn't just for tech nerds. It's for you. Its history is human. Its future is hopeful. When paired with Lean, AI helps you work smarter, not harder. You don't need to master AI, you. You just need to start using it. And you're not alone. I'm here to help. Go to aileansolutions.com and request your free intro AI audit. Download the free report on the 10 AI tools all small business owners should be using in 2025 and start considering how else I might be able to help you. But most of all, stay curious. Try something. Test it. Let the results speak. AI is not magic and it's not a scam. And the results you get are real and immediate. You'll know it's working because you'll suddenly find yourself with more free time than you're used to and your bottom line will be growing. That means cash, people, and E O. Well, Dot, our time is up for today. We made it through. Thanks for joining me on the inaugural first episode of the AI Lean Edge podcast. Subscribe, share and leave a review. If today helped shift your mindset about AI, tell a friend, try a tool, take the first step. Our help is here for you if you want it. Your future business self will definitely thank you. So until next time, stay lean, stay learning, and stay ahead. Or keep leaning into AI. You know, I kind of like both of those. What do you think? Contact me and let me know which I should use. So stay lean, stay learning, and stay ahead. Or keep leaning into AI. All right, thanks all and have a great day.